AS well as the Plantation – launched earlier this year and reviewed in our July issue – Cambrian had two more new lodges on display at the recent Stoneleigh show. The Henley, which we’ll be featuring at a later date, was the more expensive model, at the usual 20ft width, with a plusher interior and a more adventurous layout. The Oakmere is an up-market entry-level model, and the show home was a compact, 16ft twin unit.

There’s nothing too radical about the exterior. It sticks to the rectangular footprint, with a pair of apex windows to the left side of the front end and a picture window and a single patio door towards the corner to the right. This is mirrored by a second single patio door and picture window at right angles at this corner on the front side.

The main entrance is a little over halfway along the side, a door with three frosted glass panels between two similar fixed window units. Between the patio door and the front door are two ‘slot’ windows, one above the other, and these are matched by a pair on the back wall.

Through the front door is a short hall with a cloak cupboard to the left with four hooks and ahead is a chunky American white oak sideboard with open shelf (the other wooden furniture in the home matches this); above is a wood-framed mirror. The floor is dark, wood-grain vinyl.

Turn left into the open plan living area, with vaulted, white tongue-and-groove style ceiling, and directly ahead, between the slot windows on the front wall and the patio door, is a simple square white oak dining table and four beige upholstered chairs. The area directly around the two patio doors has been left clear.

On the other side of the front end of the living area, around the apex windows and slot windows on the back wall, is the lounge area, with plump two and three seater sofas, in similar but slightly darker fabric than the dining chairs. There’s a nice, chunky low wooden coffee table and a two-table nest, the inner module in the form of a hollow cube.

On the end wall, between the windows, is a wall-hung, flame effect electric fire with cream surround and white pebbles and, above, a power point and TV aerial input. There are three double power points around the lounge and dining area, which has beige carpeting. Roman blinds hang over the slot and picture windows, with vertical slatted fabric blinds over the patio doors .


UNUSUAL CEILING

You may not notice it at first, but while the exterior roof has an even-sided pitch, the interior vaulted ceiling is asymmetric, with a wooden beam running along the apex. The narrow side matches the width of the dining area; the wider side matches the lounge and the kitchen area.

The kitchen itself is behind the lounge, divided from it by a half-height partition and with the same flooring as the hall. Against the partition is a work area with the sink and drainer (with a stylish mixer unit). Below, in the version I saw (they can vary according to customer’s needs) were one wide and two narrow cupboards with Shaker-style pale oak fascias, plus an integrated dishwasher and another cupboard door hiding an integrated washer/dryer. There are two double power points. The full-height window on the back wall had a wooden Venetian blind.

The other side of the galley-style kitchen has a boiler cupboard to the left above a storage cupboard with the integrated fridge/freezer matching it at the other end, all in matt off-white. Between is the work area into which is set a four-burner gas hob with stainless steel splashback rising to the glass and stainless steel extractor above; below is an integrated fan oven/grill, and there are two double power points. Again in the version I saw, a three-drawer stack (with two pan drawers) sat to the left of the oven and a cupboard to the right, all with the Shaker-style fascias. Either side of the extractor are wall-hang cupboards in the off-white style. The worktops are marble-effect vinyl wrap.

There are three spotlights in the kitchen ceiling and six above the dining area. There are also two pendant lamps above the lounge/kitchen partition and another, larger one over the centre of the lounge.


COMFORTABLE BEDROOMS

Returning to the hall, almost opposite the entrance door is the second bedroom, a spacious twin with full-size wood-framed beds, a chunky two-drawer cabinet between them and a free-standing two-door, two-drawer wardrobe. A tall window sits in the centre of the back wall, with square, high level windows above each bed.

There is a pendant light fitting, a double power point between the beds, and a power point and TV point on the wall, but no separate reading lights.


COMFORTABLE MASTER

To the right at the end of the hall is the L-shaped bathroom, with bath and overbath shower, hinged Perspex screen and nice brown tiling. A circular basin sits on a wall-hung cabinet with deep drawer, a tall mirror above and a ladder radiator beside it.

Opposite the bathroom is the master bedroom, whcih is quite a comfortable size, with king-size bed, chunky cabinets either side (one drawer, one shelf), a six-drawer chest and a two-door, two-drawer freestanding wardrobe. There’s a framed mirror on the wall and TV points above the chest.

A compact en suite is fitted with a quadrant shower, but otherwise the same fittings and look as the bathroom.


VERDICT

At 40x16, the Oakmere’s rivals in size and price are homes like the Oak Grove Beech Lodge and Willerby New Jersey, both of which can be built, like this, to BS3632. My doubts about this model are mainly over the two single patio doors – I can’t really see the point, frankly, except as an effort simply to offer something slightly different. Fair enough, but I’m not sure it’s actually a selling point. The lounge feels a little squeezed, too, especially without wider patio doors to help open it out.

In other respects the Oakmere is an excellent model at this price point, with roomy bedrooms and bathroom, a well-equipped, attractive and functional kitchen and top-quality furniture. And, personally, I like the use of various blinds throughout rather than drapes.

If you are on the financial cusp between a single unit and a full-scale twenty-footer, it is well worth a look.


INFO

Cambrian Park & Leisure Homes, Y Treath, Snowdon Street, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9BT
Tel: 0800 917 9035/01766 515287 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cambrianleisurehomes.co.uk





TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Type: Twin unit lodge home
• Standard: BS3632, so can be used on a residential park if the park owner agrees
• Size: 40x16
• Bedrooms: 2


MAIN FEATURES

• Canexel cladding
• Valted ceilings to open plan living area
• Three-seat and two seat sofas
• American white oak console table to hall
• American white oak dining table and four upholstered chairs
• Coffee table and side tables
• Feature electric fire
• Four burner gas hob, extractor and electric fan oven/grill
• Integrated fridge/freezer
• Integrated dishwasher
• Integrated washing machine
• Two-door, two-drawer freestanding wardrobes to bedrooms
• TV points in bedrooms
• Six drawer chest to master bedroom
• En suite shower/WC to master bedroom
• Separate family bathroom/WC with overbath shower and screen
• Chrome ladder towel rail/radiator to bathroom and en suite
• Wall-hung vanity units and mirros to bathroom and en suite
• Co-ordinated bedding to both bedrooms
• Roman blinds to bedrooms, lounge and dining area


This feature was published in the August 2011 issue of Park & Holiday Homes. To order a copy of Park & Holiday Homes please click here


Love this lifestyle? Sign up to our monthly lodge and holiday home e-newsletters today for EXCLUSIVE FEATURES please click here